Sony adds XAVC S support to Cyber-shot DSC-RX10

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 is a video powerhouse, and Sony is now giving it the same XAVC S codec found on its RX100 III, a7S, and a5100 models via firmware update v.2 This allows for 1080p/60/30/24 and 720p/120 resolutions (and their PAL equivalents) at a bit rate of 50Mbps. Aside from the new firmware, a SDXC card is the only other thing you'll need to get started.

Update: the firmware is now available in the US, as is a Mac version.

Here are some download links to get you started - and don't forget to read our review of the RX10.

Temporarily out of stock. Order now and we'll deliver when available. We'll e-mail you with an estimated delivery date as soon as we have more information. Your credit card will not be charged until we ship the item.

Update done, works smooth and fine with the new 50Mbps XAVC S codec.. :)Now just waiting for the next ver.3 FW update enabling 4K resolution as an option (as all the hardware inside this camera is also 4K ready/compatible.)It would be a nice update.. :)

The next version of the RX10 should include 4K video, an upgraded EVF with 2.36-million dot resolution, and a fully articulated (flip out) LCD touch screen. No need to increase zoom range if it increases weight and bulk, and losing the f2.8 constant aperture.

NOW, repeat the same on all models with Bionz X processor (I'm assuming this is the main requirement...aside from the will of doing it). They should allow XAVC S recording on a77II, a7, a7R and a6000 too.

I do agree with you - it seems that the Bionz X processor is req'd to allow XAVC S recording, as Sony claims it is 3-times faster than the older Bionz processor. Even i don't film videos, it would be a nice upgrade into the A7-Series....and the A77 II, A6000 too.

The info is a little misleading, causing some negative comments here. The Mac version was released at the same time as the Windows one. One example is the Chinese Sony website, from where I got mine. That was a day before this report. The files are the same so it doesn't matter from where you get it. Many readers were alerted to this by a sharp poster in the CyberShot thread. The fact that some European websites had not posted it, doesn't mean it was unavailable. For my RX10, I used the download from the China site; for my RX100M3, I used the US site. Neither camera was purchased in those locations.

Now the rx10 is more appealing. I'm suprised sony would do this. Their track record with supporting cameras with firmware is horrible. Now hopefully they will update the autofocus on the a7 series..... If they care about their customers that is.

Thanks for you comments and experiences. Yes, Sony and other companies give cameras firmware to fix bugs and so forth. But I was suprised that Sony would add new features like a better codec. What as been holding me back from the A7 lIne is what I feel like is lack of commitment to it's customers. Fuji is setting the bar high right now. The lack of lenses in their FE and older E mount holds me back from Sony Mirrorles cameras even though I like them. Sony does not even include a battery charger for the A7. That is not commiting to it's customers. Anyway, I hope This will be a new trend for Sony.

When Sony adds functionality in a firmware update its usually because there is a competitive product out there, but Sony isnt ready to release a new device. Today, that's the FZ1000. Back when they updated the A700, it was the Canon 40D and Nikon D200.

So I think we can safely assume Sony aren't going to announce an RX10Mk2 at Photokina.

To give Sony some credit, like any company they have limited resources. Should their devs be working on firmware updates for exiting cameras or focusing on the next generation of cameras? Your answer probably depend on whether you've just bought a camera or are waiting...

Everyone mentions Fuji because they release a few more firmware updates. They don't do this because they love their customers.They're subject to the same market and economics Sony are, and their shareholders want the same results as Sony's, i.e. more revenue.No, Fuji release more firmware updates for the exact same reason as Sony: They have to remain competitive while they prepare their next camera... its just that Fuji's capacity to create new cameras is much less, much slower than Sony's. Therefore, they have to extend the life of the products they already have.

Good explanation. Regardless, I think customers want to feel that their camera purchases are going to be supported in the long run. And your right, Fuji does not have the same resources as Sony. So, Fuji must find new ways to stay competitive. Still, perception is important. Customers just want to buy into a well developed, focused, and supported system. Anyway, the RX10 is now a great little run and gun system that many videographers will find use for. Thank God for competition. Without it, we would still be recording to VHS.

Sony has really ticked off some high end customers, There is a veteran camera man that purchased a F5 cost. $16,000, then there is the F55 cost $29,000, The main difference, the F55 does 4K internally to SDXC cards I think that's the name of them,

He figured out that all he had to do was take the latest Firmware upgrade for the F55 and used it to upgrade his F5, whala! Instant 4K recording internally, the main reason the F55 owners bought there camera. WHOA!

I believe there are other functions that were improved also on the F5 The two cameras are very identical in design and external features, If you want to research it to see for your self just google F5 Hack, even though it's not a real hack, that's what it's being called, It's interesting reading on how the industry independent videographers feel about MFG's firmware updates. Anyhow thought it was interesting.

same sensor, processor and 4K.It's possible, yet the Venus does things in the GH4 that the AX100 can not. 1080p at 96 fps for instance. and cinema 4K at 24 fps.So it might be faster who knows but the Bionz X can do 4K

You mean a firmware update? Yes this is the first firmware update in the 9 months since the RX10 launched and a significant one at that... how many do you expect?

I may be in the minority here, but I can't help but feel that a dedicated device such as a camera should really do what it claims on the box and not need constant updating. I know we are used to being served up half-baked products and a constant stream of betaware that we continually have to update to fix everything that was broken when it shipped, or got broken in the last FW update.

Did I say that they did? I am talking about the constant barrage of firmware updates for many other brands and devices. I certainly appreciate the updated features here and was commenting on the 'absence' of firmware fixes because they haven't been necessary. I WOULD have been annoyed if this needed a firmware fix every month because of laziness and releasing before being market ready.

Lets give sony some credit. The lens on the RX10 is a lot better than the one on the FZ1000 and besides 4k video resolution this update gives the RX10 yet another strength. It gives about as good a 1080p video shot as you can get for anywhere near this money.

You never have had a Sony DSC-V1, or Sony DSC-R1, don't you?Both received a Firmware 2.0 Upgrade long time ago, whereas the V1 was the 1st Sony Digicam with Flashrom into it's heyday.

The Sony Alpha DSLR Series also have had many updates, and serveral NEX, too. It's nice to see the RX10 got better, because as it already does have the "Bionz-X" Processor, i was wondering when (or if) Sony would update to XAVC S months ago - to get a bit better against the FZ1000 Lumix. Anyway, i currently don't care about that 4k Marketing Hype - and the plastique Build of the FZ1000 sucks - the RX10 is quite better that way, and also does have the better lens,but the FZ1000 does have a better EVF, because it's newer

@marc petzold -- That's why I don't pay attention to those marketing games. Both lenses are good for what they are, neither is spectacular. Saying that one is a lot better than the other is drinking marketing coolaid and ignoring reality.

I just bought the RX10 a week ago and never know of this update and decided to go for the sony over the Panasonic 4K for a lot if reason and main one is 4K in fz1000 is nothing but a rubbish with mp4 codec and not to mention the lens so much better on the rx10, now they make it even better, thanx sony u r the best

More about products in this article

Panasonic's new Lumix DMC-FZ100 offers a compelling feature set and solid performance that sets it above conventional superzoom cameras. Editor Barnaby Britton spent a day shooting with the FZ1000 earlier this week, and shares his impressions.

We just added Sony's RX10 to our enthusiast compact camera buying guide and also updated our aperture comparison chart with Canon's PowerShot G1 X Mark II. While image quality in this class won't compete with a good mirrorless camera paired with a good lens, they pack enough features that should satisfy serious photo enthusiasts. Many cameras in this range make an excellent choice as a more portable second camera, or as a single do-it-all option. See how the RX10 ranks

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 looks at first glance a bit like a high-end superzoom with its 24-200mm equivalent F2.8 lens. That's a fairly modest range by modern standards, but then the camera's 1" sensor is very large compared to conventional superzooms. Sony has put a lot of effort into the camera's video capabilities and tools, making it more than just a stills shooter, but are the sum of these parts enough to make the whole worth $1300? Find out in our review

Sony has a long history of making interesting cameras and has, in recent years, produced some of the most innovative products and technologies. Not all of these developments have caught on but we've admired its pioneering spirit, even when we haven't always loved the products.

Latest in-depth reviews

The Fujifilm X-H1 is a top-of-the-range 24MP mirrorless camera with in-body stabilization and the company's most advanced array of video capabilities. We've been shooting with one for a while now and have put together a gallery, a sample video and some preliminary analysis.

Panasonic's Lumix DC-GX9 is a rangefinder-style mirrorless camera that offers quite a few upgrades over its predecessor, with a lower price tag to boot. We've spent the weekend with the GX9 and have plenty of thoughts to share, along with an initial set of sample photos.

Panasonic's new premium compact boasts a 24-360mm equiv. F3.3-6.4 zoom lens, making it the longest reaching 1"-type pocket camera on the market. We spent a little time with it; read our first impressions.

The Panasonic GH5S is best understood as an even more video-centric variant of the GH5. We've tested it in a range of circumstances to see whether the video improvements are worth the loss of stabilization.

Latest buying guides

Landscape photography isn't as simple as just showing up in front of a beautiful view and taking a couple of pictures. Landscape shooters have a unique set of needs and requirements for their gear, and we've selected some of our favorites in this buying guide.

Quick. Unpredictable. Unwilling to sit still. Kids really are the ultimate test for a camera's autofocus system. We've compiled a short list of what we think are the best options for parents trying to keep up with young kids, and narrowed it down to one best all-rounder.

If you're a serious enthusiast or working pro, the very best digital cameras on the market will cost you at least $2000. That's a lot of money, but generally speaking these cameras offer the highest resolution, the best build quality and the most advanced video specs out there, as well as fast burst rates and top-notch autofocus.

Are you a speed freak? Hungry to photograph anything that goes zoom? Or perhaps you just want to get Sports Illustrated level shots of your child's soccer game. Keep reading to find out which cameras we think are best for sports and action shooting.

Ricoh has announced an updated version of its K-1 full-frame DSLR. The Pentax K-1 Mark II gains an additional 'accelerator' processor that enables improved image processing as well as a handheld version of its Pixel Shift Resolution mode.

For a limited time this summer, current K-1 owners will be able to send their cameras in for a circuit board replacement, essentially upgrading to a Mark II. They'll even get a Mark II logo swapped in on the front of the camera.

Panasonic has continued to develop its organic/CMOS image sensor tech, and the latest breakthrough is big: an image sensor that can shoot 8K at 60p, boasts incredible dynamic range, and has global shutter capability.

Services like Copypants and Pixsy help anybody find copyright infringers, send take-down requests, and quickly demand licensing fees and damages. But do these automated systems also open the door to prolific copyright trolls?

The new 5x4-inch field camera was designed by UK photographer and custom camera maker Steve Lloyd, and it promises to be lightweight, easy-to-use, unique, affordable and upgradable... as well as a bit funky.

Camera accessory manufacturer Really Right Stuff is relocating. The company is moving its headquarters from California to Utah, citing rising costs and promising 'expansion on every level' as a result of this move.

Fujifilm's new X-H1 sits above the X-T2 in the company's X-series APS-C lineup. At the X-H1's launch in LA last week, we sat down with the camera's product manager, Jun Watanabe, for a detailed look at the new camera.

The so-called 'Prosthetic Photographer' uses AI to continuously scan the environment for 'ideal' scenes. When it sees one, it uses electrodes to zap the photographer, forcing them to press the button and take the shot. It's an... interesting idea.

A helicopter pilot and his student claim a civilian drone was the cause of their crash landing last week. If their story is confirmed by an ongoing investigators, this incident would mark the first time that a drone has caused an aircraft crash in the US.

Lensrentals' Roger Cicala just tore down the Sony a7R III to see just how much Sony did (and didn't) improve the camera's weather sealing over its predecessor. The results are a "good news, bad news" deal.

Samsung just set a new solid state storage milestone with its new 30TB SSD, the Serial Attached SCSI PM1643. This monster was built for enterprise use, but we can't wait to see this tech trickle down to consumers.

On this week's episode of The New Screen Savers from the TWiT Network, DPReview Science Editor Rishi Sanyal talks with host Leo Laporte and co-host Megan Morrone about some of the newest tech trends in smartphone cameras.

A blockchain crypto-art rose based on a digital photograph by Kevin Abosch was just sold for the equivalent of $1,000,000 USD in cryptocurrency to 10 equal investors. If that last sentence made absolutely no sense to you, read on.

Swiss Olympic skier Lara Gut wiped out on a run last week, and slid straight into a group of photographers shooting the action from the sidelines. Getty photographer Sean Haffey kept on shooting as Gut slid towards (and eventually hit) him.

There was a time when Fujifilm mirrorless camera users may have felt the need to go to another system to shoot video. Thanks to a new camera and a couple of lenses, they suddenly have some sweet options.

The Rotolight Neo 2 is an LED light panel with the capability to fire its LEDs fast enough and bright enough to act as a strobe. Is it enough to make stills photographers re-think their old-fashioned speed lights? Read on and find out.

Sony has made something of a break-through in sensor development with a new backside-illuminated CMOS sensor that is capable of global shutter, a huge improvement over current CMOS global shutter technology.

Microsoft has released a new "Ultimate Performance" mode for Windows 10 Pro for Workstations—a mode that throws all power management out the window (so to speak) in favor of the best possible performance it can pull from your hardware.